TN: Dalit outfit stages protest against release of Aarakshan

Chennai, Aug 12: Controversial Hindi movie "Aarakshan" (Reservation), which has been banned in three states, saw a Dalit outfit staging a protest here ahead of its scheduled release today (Aug 12), demanding it be banned in Tamil Nadu.

The Prakash Jha produced movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Dalit outfit Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi staged an agitation in front of Satyam theatre, where the movie is to be released, demaning that it be banned in the state.

A party spokesman said cadres had assembled in other places in the state like Coimbatore, but that the film was not released in theatres

The party claimed more than 100 VCK activists were arrested and demanded that the movie, banned in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab, be banned in Tamil Nadu also.

Jha today moved the Supreme Court seeking its direction to lift ban on release of his film in these states. After Uttar Pradesh, its release was banned in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh on Thursday over certain controversial scenes and dialogues, which the director had said he is ready to delete.